Restart Heart (18+ Visual Novel)

Restart Heart Schedule

Please note that unless it has a specified date these are estimates, I as the developer am very sick and often times struggle to stay on schedule due to my illnesses. Thank you for your patience!

Restart Heart Credits

Coded using the Ren'py Engine.

All code written by QueenLilithPrime except for:
Image Gallery - ZeilLearnings
Voice Blips - CutieSigh
Kinetic Text - Wattson

Iconography, Symbols and GUI Assets by QueenLilithPrimeCharacter Designs and Assets by QueenLilithPrimeBackgrounds and CG Art by QueenLilithPrimeSound Effects and Music Composition by QueenLilithPrimeMerch Designs by QueenLilithPrime

Storyline and Plot by QueenLilithPrimeNSFW Scenes written by QueenLilithPrime, Gummyghosting, CrypticFingers, and ItsYaBoiCharacter Backstories by QueenLilithPrimeCultural Advisory and Sensitivity: TheTiredSiFormer Cultural Advisory/Sensitivity:
Gummyghosting, HydroPingu, YourGovernmentSushi, MocchiMai, CommuLi, Rainey

Restart Heart Development Goals

The plans for Restart Heart are as follows!

There will also be a paid version of Restart Heart! (Original 1080p game will always remain free) The paid version will include:

There are also 4 possible DLCS planned for Restart Heart that will hopefully be released with the final game.

The game will be translated into a minimum of 4 languages with hopes of a number of other languages as well.

And ideally including languages my characters can speak!

These will all most likely come out after the initial English release of Restart Heart on Dec 1st, 2024. However they will hopefully all be available in due time!

How many characters are Dateable?

7!
Ezra, Blaire, Sammy, Chris, Steph, Bess, and Kenneth

Are there any other characters in Restart Heart?

Sarah! MC's younger sister. Both MC and Sarah were adopted.
While there are other characters that appear in game, they are mostly for short snippets and will not be affecting lore/plot very much.

What are the characters sexualities?

All the dateable characters are canonically bi/pan! They are also all open to poly relationships if enough communication is present.

Are the characters okay with an Aromantic and/or Asexual MC?

Yes! All characters are comfortable with an aro and/or ace MC.
Every relationship should be able to stand own its own without sex :)
(in my opinion at least)

What is MC's name?

By default your name is Sugar Dust! Older sibling of Sarah Dust.
Your first name is customizable!

What is customizable about MC?

Name, Pronouns, Virginity Status, Genitalia, Affectionate Terms, Relationship Titles, and more.
I do plan on implementing more Pronouns and Genitalia options in the future.

How often do you check socials for posts about the game?

I'm bad at checking social media and replying to DMs, so please tag me in things! And feel free to send me an extra DM if I haven't gotten back to you!
I also have a hard time with tumblr tags and I forget about twitter tags a lot, so please... Tag me! <33

Will you ever make a version for minors?

Absolutely not! Never! I might make a version for youtubers to not get flagged for language, but my game will never be for minors! Ever!

Where/When is the game set?

The first day of the game is December 1st, 2024! It's set in a country similar to the United States however it's a universe where it's not the United States.

Anything else? Feel free to let me know!

Generic Character Information

Note: All character Birthdays, Ages, and Pronouns are listed in game on the character menu screen

Other Character Information

This chart includes full names, ethnicities, and other quick facts about the characters
^{The quick facts may or may not be relevant to the game depending on the character}

What do you use for coding?

I use Ren'py 8 with VSCode.

Where did you get...

Image Gallery Code - ZeilLearnings
Kinetic Text Code - Wattson

How do you learn Ren'py?

Ren'py comes with a built-in tutorial game that gives you lots of code and examples you can use freely within your own game. You can also search in the Lemmasoft Forums for Ren'py help, and there's even a Ren'py Discord Server where you can ask for help on things. Ren'py Tom even has a website with more extensive explanations called Ren'py Documentation.

I also highly suggest learning the basics of Python, which is the coding language Ren'py is based on.

How do you code the voice blips into the name?

I use callback code from Ren'py! I've adjusted it a bit from the original but I still use that code as the base!

There are three different variants used in Restart Heart for voice blips.

These voice blips are different pitches, and I usually use Blip 1 for masculine voices, Blip 2 for androgynous voices, and Blip 3 for feminine voices.

Code Examples

init -1 python:
    def blip1(event, **kwargs):
        if event == "show":
            renpy.music.play("audio/blip1.ogg", channel="sound", loop=True)
        elif event == "slow_done" or event == "end":
            renpy.music.stop(channel="sound")    def blip2(event, **kwargs):
        if event == "show":
            renpy.music.play("audio/blip2.ogg", channel="sound", loop=True)
        elif event == "slow_done" or event == "end":
            renpy.music.stop(channel="sound")    def blip3(event, **kwargs):
        if event == "show":
            renpy.music.play("audio/blip3.ogg", channel="sound", loop=True)
        elif event == "slow_done" or event == "end":
            renpy.music.stop(channel="sound")

How do you define your characters and use them?

I have two variables for my characters in RH in order to include pronouns in their name titles when they're speaking!

When characters or the player is referring to a character by name, I'll use the double letter variant, but whenever a character is speaking I'll use the single letter variant.

Why do you use single and double letter variable names?

It saves me time when typing so that I don't have to type out a characters name! It also makes variables easier on me since if the player inputs the same name as a character, that character's name gets changed!

Code Examples

define a = Character("[aa] (He/Him)", color="#99DDFF", callback=blip1)
define b = Character("[bb] (She/They)", color="#087762", callback=blip3)
define c = Character("[cc] (They/Them)", color="#ffafaf", callback=blip2)
define d = Character("[dd] (She/Her)", color="#FF4444", callback=blip3)
define e = Character("[ee] (He/They)", color="#cf9fff", callback=blip1)
define f = Character("[ff] (They/Them)", color="#3e4ad1", callback=blip2)
define k = Character("[kk] (He/Him)", color="#6c5b30", callback=blip1)

define aa = "Chris"
define bb = "Bess"
define cc = "Sammy"
define dd = "Blaire"
define ee = "Ezra"
define ff = "Steph"
define kk = "Kenneth"

a "How are you feeling? Was your date with [ee] nice?"

How do you set up player inputs?

There are quite a few ways do to player inputs for their names but this is how I prefer to do things!

Why do you use name.title()?

This makes sure that no matter how the player inputs their name (i.e. NAME, name, nAmE) it will always be properly capitalized! These are called python string methods!

.capitalize() capitalizes the first letter of the string
.upper() makes the entire string uppercase
.lower() makes the entire string lowercase
.swapcase() swaps all the lowercase to uppercase and all the uppercase to lowercase
.strip() removes any leading spaces or trailing spaces
.title() capitalizes the first letter of every word

Code Examples

define y = Character("[name] ([prn1!c]/[prn2!c])", whobold = True, color="#ffffff", callback=blip2)define z = Character("{size=-15}{i}Your Thoughts...{/size}{/i}", whatprefix="{i}{size=-5}", what_suffix="{/i}{/size}", color="#7a7a7a")

python:
    name = renpy.input("What's my name again?")    name = name.strip() or "Sugar"    name = name.title()

What is the !c for?

It's called a conversion flag! You can use them in [ ]'s to adjust the variable.

!c capitalizes the first letter
!u makes it entirely uppercase
!l makes it entirely lowercase

How do you do the name easter eggs?

This is one of the first things I tried to learn how to do in ren'py because I thought it was very fun to see in games!

All you have to do is use your name variable (I use name for simplicity) and use if statements!

You can see I can rename characters using my double letter variable, and this way their pronouns are unaffected.

I can also tease players who don't input any names! If you don't input and simply hit enter it'll automatically set your name to Sugar and includes an Easter Egg about Ezra naming you (This also occurs if you input your name as Sugar). If you input something along the lines of Name or Player you'll get another easter egg as shown to the right.

Code Examples

if name == "Ezra":
    "There's already a character named Ezra, so... "
    extend "their name is now Ezekiel."
    $ ee = "Ezekiel"elif name == "Chris" or name == "Christopher":
    "There's already a character named Chris, so... "
    extend "their name is now Cole."
    $ aa = "Cole"elif name == "Name" or name == "Y/n" or name == "Y/N" or name == "Yn" or name == "MC" or name == "Mc" or name == "Me" or name == "You" or name == "Player":
    "fuck, really?... fine."    "..."    "Nope, I can't have you being named that."    "Fuck it"
    extend "... I'm renaming you."    $ name = "Sugar"

How do you make custom pronouns?

So I wrote all of this pronoun code myself because other set-ups for pronouns didn't really make sense for me. I write RH primarily in second-person and I'm not great with grammar...

So all of this is what makes sense to me, it might not make sense to you but that's okay!

Each of the variables are as follows:

Each of the 18+ variables are as follows:

So how do you use these in text?

With the pronouns all you'd have to do is use them like other variables! I would suggest something like...

if pronounstyle == "single":
    a "[prn1]'s an adult! [prn1] can think for [prn4]."
elif pronounstyle == "plural":
    a "[prn1]'re an adult! [prn1] can think for [prn4]."

Which would spit out,
"He's an adult. He can think for himself"
"She's an adult! She can think for herself."
"They're an adult they can think for themselves."

What about 18+ scenes?

Alrighty so with 18+ scenes you can either entirely make them 100% ungendered/sexed or make alternate texts for different types and scenes.

I personally have a hard time writing scenes with descriptions when I have to leave things out, so I go the long way and write seperate scenes for different genitalia. However, I still use the other variables within those same scenes.

Remember when you're writing 18+ scenes, especially in VN's where people are meant to have a self-insert they are playing as, that you should always take the utmost care in handling intimate scenes and gender/identity.

Many players who are trans, non-binary, or gay often struggle to see representation within media and want to use these medias in the same way others do, as an escape. So please take care to listen to feedback from players and always be inclusive in your works.

Players shouldn't have to misgender themselves or deal with misgendering or uncomfortable gender/sex scenes simply because of they don't have any choice.

If you have made it this far, I'm assuming you plan to use the pronoun selection and possibly the genitalia selection I have coded. So please listen when I say that it's important that the player character be someone they can insert themselves into.

If you have a preset character that the player will play as, that's perfectly fine as long as people are aware of that ahead of time, especially in dating games. However, if you want a player to be able to self-insert you need to not assign attributes to them.

All MC's will have their own personality simply because of the nature of writing a story, even for self-inserts. But you can't assign traits like straight hair, impose a skin tone, weight or height, or assume the sex/gender of your players.

Players don't want to experience dysphoria when playing a game, so you need to keep that in mind. Especially when writing 18+ scenes. Many players may lose interest in your product if they are forced into a binary/sex that they are not a part of.

Obviously we all have our own demographics that we are pandering to, but in games where you can be inclusive, you should.

Ramble over, sorry lmao.

Code Examples

Will be updated soon to reflect updated custom screen in-game!
- August 11, 2023

My method for Sprites

When making sprites, the best way for expanding choices and options for yourself in the future development of a game is to have all of the parts separated.

There should be separate images for Eyes, Mouth, Brows and other Facial/Expressive Indicators like Sweat, Blush, or Anger symbols.

Noses can usually be kept on the base sprite as they usually don't move around the face, but if your art style does have noses move, you can add those as well!

When doing expressions and adding the additions like blushing or sweat or other markers of expression there are a few ways you can do it but I would suggest blush being on the bottom and other expression parts to be on top, with the additives above all the others.

For the base sprites that have no face, you can do different outfits, hairstyles, or poses. For example, in Restart Heart I have basic outfits for the date-able characters!

And with the way I set up expressions, It's easy to add new outfits such as Bunny Suits, Maid Dresses, and other costumes.

Code Examples

Basic Expression

image ezra_expression_neutral =Composite(
    (640, 1080),
    (0, 0), "ezra/browsneutral.png",
    (0, 0), "ezra/eyesdirect.png",
    (0, 0), "ezra/mouthneutral.png")

Other Expressions

image ezra_expression_horny3 =Composite(
    (640, 1080),
    (0, 0), "ezra/otherblush100.png",
    (0, 0), "ezra/browsneutral.png",
    (0, 0), "ezra/eyeshearts.png",
    (0, 0), "ezra/mouthanxious.png",
    (0, 0), "ezra/othersweat.png")

Full Sprites

image ezra neutral = Composite(
    (640, 1080),
    (0, 0), "ezra/full.png",
    (0, 0), "ezra_expression_neutral")

Animating Blinks

image ezra_eyes_direct:
    "ezra/eyesdirect.png"
    choice:
        4.5
    choice:
        3.5
    choice:
        1.5
    "ezra/eyesclosed.png"
    .25
    repeat

Then you would put ezra\_eyes\_direct in the ezra\_expression_neutral instead of "ezra/eyesdirect.png"

Why do you use (640, 1080)?

The (640, 1080) is the size of the images for sprites. I personally use 640x1080 sized images for the sprites in the standard version of Restart Heart and 1280x2160 for the 4k version.

What does choice do and why is it used in animating?

It randomizes the length from the chosen lengths you put! So the blinks in that example can be between 4.5, 3.5, and 1.5 seconds apart

What does the .25 at the end mean?

How long the final image is held for.

Why do you have your sprites set up like this and not as their own images?

Doing it this way allows for expressions to be consistent across outfits, and these forms of expressions can be animated.

Why are some images named with spaces and others named with underscore's?

The images named with spaces are images that use ren'py built in tagging function, that allows you to use the show/hide function to its fullest! Further information on it can be found here.

Restart Heart Theme

Restart Heart Night Theme

Restart Heart Romantic Theme

Restart Heart Suspicious Theme

Restart Heart Eerie Theme

What I'm comfortable with

You are allowed to create fan-content for Restart Heart however you cannot use my characters or universe for profit.What does this mean?
I don't mind if artists do commissions of my characters if requested by their client, however selling merchandise of my game and it's characters is not allowed.As for subscription only content like Patreon or Ko-Fi, if you're posting primarily Restart Heart content I'm not okay with it, but as long as it's not the primary posts I don't mind.Please remember I am an indie game developer and official merchandise for Restart Heart is available!

I'm comfortable with a lot of types of fan-content, but please be cautious when making fan-content. If you make fan accounts please make that clear and do not imitate the official accounts.If you make something triggering please tag it with the appropriate warnings, and please do NOT draw any of my characters in non/dub-con situations.I will also make this clear, none of my characters would ever be interested in a minor in any way shape or form. It is not only illegal but also immoral for anyone below the age of 18 to interact with or consume content from the game or related to the game itself.In general, when making fan content please be conscientious.

How to interact

If you click on the icons above, you can find out the official Restart Heart Socials for different sites. You're more than welcome to tag me in your fan content and I will check it out and most likely repost it when I get the chance!

Are there any official references and assets that are available to be used for making fan-content?

Yup! Two of those sources are on this website! Art References are here and Sheet Music is here!I also have the sheet music available as png's within the game files itself! It's in the audio folder.I also post assets on the Clip Studio Asset Store! I personally use Clip Studio Ex so it's easy for me to upload them there.RH Eye Asset Set Content ID: 1979285
RH Cast 3D Model Set Content ID: 1979272

Stance on AI bots or generations

Absolutely not. Nothing related to Restart Heart may be put into any AI generator or bot. This includes chat bots and writing prompts.
I am an artist and a writer, you are more than welcome to commission me through ko-fi if you want something specific.

Creator and Developer
Queen Lilith Prime

You are allowed to create fan-content for Restart Heart however you cannot use my characters or universe for profit.What does this mean?
I don't mind if artists do commissions of my characters if requested by their client, however selling merchandise of my game and it's characters is not allowed.Please remember I am an indie game developer and official merchandise for Restart Heart is available!